Electric switching mechanism



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ELECTRIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1928 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 v X NITED STATES PATEN'F' OFFICE HARRY A. DOUGLAS, 01 BRONSON, MICHIGAN ELECTRIC SWITCHING MECHANISM Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,282.

My invention relates to electric switching a switch operating rod is coupled with a conmechanism and to couplings employing the tact actuator or carrier by the device of my same and is of particular service in connection present invention; Figs. 2, 3, 4 and are secwith the switching mechanism disclosed in tional views respectively taken on lines 2-2, 5 mycopending application Serial No. 252,279, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 filed February 6, 1928, though the invention shows the parts of the structure of my inis not to be restricted to any particular use. vention in perspective.

In accordance with one characteristic of As set forth inmy said copending appli- H my invention a clamp is formed of folded cation, the rod 1 passes upwardly through a '10 sheet metal having a socket at its bight for hollow steering shaft to the top side of ahand the reception of a part to be coupled, the operated steering wheel fixed upon the upper sides of the clip that extend from the socket end of this shaft. This rod has a handle being separable due to the resilience of the upon its upper end whereby the rod may be V clip, there being means, such as a clamping depressed to close a horn or signaling circuit "1 bolt that may be passed through the clip and may be turned to adjust the lighting cirsides and beyond the socket, whereby said cuits. clip sides may be drawn together to grip the A clip is clamped upon the lower end of the clip upon the part that is within the socket. rod, this clip being formed of spring sheet M The clip is provided with at least one prong metal folded into U-form and in a manner to and preferably two prongs whereby it may provide a socket 2 of arcuate curvature that be assembled with another partthat is to be snugly receives and is coaxial with the rod. coupled with the aforesaid part, said prong The cllp is extended from the longitudinal or prongs being so disposed with relation to edges of the socket into fiat clip sides 3 and 4 the clip as not to interfere with the relative which have holes 5 and 6 formed theremovability of the clip sides. Where two through, the hole 6 having screw threads prongs are employed, one constitutes a struc upon its interior. The screw threaded stem 7 tural" continuation of the bight of the clip of a bolt is passed through these holes and and the other a structural continuation of screwed into said threads. The nut 8 is oneof the clip sides, the other clip side bescrewed upon the bolt stem and draws the '30 m th f f any b t ti b th ng bolt head 9 toward each other to contract the so to its movability toward and from the first split SOGketQ into tight clamping engagement 11 id with the end of the rod that is within the In accordance with another characteristic k The mld portion of the socket, that of the invention the prongs pass through th is the bight portion of the clip, is continued '1 35 end w ll f an inverted cup which serves as lengthwise of the socket into an assembling a hood to one of the two parts that are PIOIIg IlO Vllill respect to WhlCll SlClGS Of l db th li the clip are equally movable. One of the In another aspect, my invention comprises l p e h 11p sldel as shown, is proa switch operating rod, prongs upon on d vided with a prong continuat on 11. Said of said rod and extending longitudinall of prongs extend along the aXlS Of the SOCkthe rod, and a switch operating member av- 61? n rod 11% lllterfere jvl h the Openings receiving aid prongs whereby relative movabillty Of flat 011p SldBS. said member is turned when said rod is Thes? P Q P respectlvely throughrthe t d openings 12 and 13 formed in the end wall 45 I The invention has other characteristics and Of an inverted upshaped hood 14, the adj awill be more fully explained in connection en 01 ba e portlo'n of the clip being in with the accompanying drawing in which thrusting engagement with said cup end wall. 'Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a switch Said prongs also respectively pass through structure having features disclosed in my openings 15 and 16 in the invered cup shaped aforesaid ports and in which switch structure switch operating member 17. Central holes column.

.the horn or other signaling device.

19 and 20 are respectively formed through the top or end walls of the cups 14 and 17 to receive a rivet 21 that couples these cup walls. The top of the cup shaped hood or shield 14 is depressed into diametrically opposite lugs 22 that are received in diametrically opposite notches 23 that are formed in the annular corner of cup 17. Said prongs are thus in turning engagement with both members 14 and 17 and said members are in direct turning engagement with each other to prevent relative turning movement thereof in case the prongs are somewhat loose in the openings 12, 13, 15, 16. The cup 17 has a bottom inverted cup shaped flange 24 which has diametrically opposite cars 25 which are slidingly received within diametrically opposite grooves 26 that are enlargements of a hole formed centrally within an insulating ring 27.

As set forth in my aforesaid copending application, the switching mechanism which is controlled by the rod 1 is carried at the lower end of a bracket structure 28 which is carried upon the lower end of the stationary steering A spring 29 presses upon the rod 1 longitudinally of its axis to normally maintain this rod in the uppermost position along the axis of this rod. This spring is also a contact actuator, this actuator being also preferably a contact carrier to which end this spring is in the form of a resilient metallic plate through which a spiral slot 30 is cut around the axis of the rod 1 whereby the central portion of the plate constitutes a flat spring tongue which, by virtue of its resiliency, is normally constrained to remain within the general plane of the plate. A disc 31 of insulation is received in socket or cup 24 and pressed upon by the top side of the central spring tongue portion of the plate 29. The upper end of a metallic plunger contact 32 is received in the inverted cup shaped recess 33 that is centrally formed in the plate 29. The contact 32 is received within a metallic spring barrel 34 which also receives a coiled spring 35 which presses upwardly upon the contact 32, the spring 35 cooperating with the spring tongue portion of the plate 29 in maintaining the rod 1 in its uppermost position. The plunger contact 32 and the metallic spring barrel 34 are surrounded by a metallic housing 35' which has a lateral extension 36 that is clamped against a contact carrying insulating disc 37 by means of a sleeve rivet 38. The spring barrel 34, itself,

has a hollow sleeve continuation 39 which is also riveted to the disc 37. Binding screws 40 and 41 are screwed into said sleeves 38 and 39 to clamp circuit wires 42 and 43 in mechanical and electrical connection with said sleeves. The wire 42 is grounded through The wire 43 is grounded through a battery. When the rod 1 is depressed, the spiral spring tongue at the central portion of the plate 29 is depressed into engagement with the metallic housing 35 whereupon the signaling device operates. When the pressure upon the rod is relieved, the plate 29 and the coiled spring 35 restore the rod 1 to its uppermost position.

Other metallic spring barrels 44 are provided with sleeve extensions 45 which are also secured to the disc 37. These spring barrels contain springs which press upwardly upon the plunger contacts 46 that pertain to the lighting circuits, these contacts, in turn, pressing upwardly against the insulating ring 27 or against the plate 29, according to the position to which this ring is turned consequent upon turning the rod. Said spring pressed contacts 32, 46 press the ring 27 against the uppermost or end wall 47 of an inverted cup whose cylindrical wall 48 surrounds the ring 27 and the disc 37, this disc constituting a closure that is clinched u the rim of the cup. The cup wall 47 has an annular extension 49 which is secured to the bracket structure 28 by the rivets 50. Waterproof packing 51 is contained in the annular channel that is defined within said annular extension 49.

The plate 29 is provided with fingers which are clinched into engagement with the tin 27 When said rod 1 is turned, the socket 24,

through the intermediation of its ears 25 and the recesses 26, turns the ring 27 to adjust the lighting circuits, this ring being preferably confined to a fixed plane of rotation, the signaling circuit being closable merely by depressing the central portion of the plate 29 without any consequent depression of the ring 27.

The prongs 10 and 11 need not be clinched as the springs in the spring barrels 34, 44 and the spring plate 29 keep the end wall of cup 14 against the clip socket 2 and clip sides 3, 4. The cup end wall 47 has an upwardly extending tubular continuation 52 which serves as a bearing for the slotted cup 17. The cylindrical hood 14 overlies and extends laterally beyond the bearing 52 to guard against the entry of foreign matter to the switch casing.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupling member formed of spring sheet metal folded into a U and having a socket portion at its bight and fiat sides extending from said socket portion and having a prong at the bight and another prong upon one of the flat sides; and a clamping device for drawing one of said fiat sides toward the other;

2. A coupling member formed of spring sheet metal folded into a U and having a socket portion at its bight and flat sides extending from said socket portion and having a prong at the bight and another prong upon one of the flat sides and a clamping device for drawing one of said flat sides toward the other, said prongs extending longitudinally of said socket.

3. A coupling member formed of spring sheet metal folded into a U and having a socket portion at its bight and fiat sides extending from said socket portion and having a prong at the bight and another prong upon one of the flat sides; a clamping devlce for drawing one of said flat sides toward the other; and a second coupling member having openings receiving said prongs.

4. A coupling member formed of spring sheet metal folded into a U and having a socket portion at its bight and flat sides extending from said socket portion and having a prong at the bight and another prong upon one of the flat sides; a clamping device for drawing one of said flat sides toward the other, said prongs extending longitudinally of said socket; and a second coupling member having openings receiving said prongs.

5. The combination with a rotatable rod; of a spring metal clip clamped upon one end of said rod, said clip having prongs extending longitudinally of the rod; a member having openings receiving said prongs whereby said member is turned when said rod is turned; and a spring pressing upon said member to maintain it and said prongs in assembly.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

